grano grueso

i wanted to experience what it would be like to run a wet brush loaded with pigment across some rough watercolor paper.

the texture is indeed rough, like the finest sandpaper. it is heavy paper with hardly any buckling. and quite expensive!

but i just had to get some. this is rare for me. i’m not one of those creatives who tries out any and everything under the sun. at times i’ve wished i could be, but i am narrowly focused and my curiosity about everything in the world does not extend to art supplies.

except that the other day i tried my paints on an old italian sketchbook with cold press paper and it was so beautiful i knew i would have to get some rough paper to try.

i will commence to exploring this weekend. reporting my satisfaction or lack thereof as i march along.

in the meantime i continue to stare at my bookshelves and paint my books.

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Comments

I’m on the sofa right now, a beautiful breeze wafting over me, reading about Chiapas where we’re headed next week. I was with mom for 10 days, missed my paints terribly! Oh My Gouache has been such fun. I also downloaded HoneyBops lettering practice sheets and have found it oddly comforting to do the strokes over and over again. My mind travels when I don’t have to make decisions about shapes, color and placement. Just another lazy day in Mexico, enjoying perfect weather.
x S

I love how you finish what you start. That is a true “study”. I am very bad about not finishing things. Very bad. What is your next painting adventure? I too love cold press for watercolors. The colors just do different things on it than hot press, although I love that too. Heck, I just love ALL paper. Come to my house, and I will show you…haha.

I have just been trying to get through all of the family birthdays around here. Two today and one two weeks ago, and three more coming up in the next couple of weeks. A person could go broke.

I recently decided to buy a Chic Sparrow leather planner in their second chance sale, which means you pick out the size and they pick out the color and style. The seconds have minor flaws, but are cheaper, and it is a complete surprise what you will get. So, I was all like, I hope it is any color but black. I got black LOL. It’s okay because I will put it to use. Beautiful, supple leather. I don’t actually need a planner because, frankly, my life doesn’t warrant “planning”. It is more of a fly by the seat of your pants affair. I wanted it to just journal when I feel like saying something, and do art when I feel like doing that. I also sprang for my very first Lamy pen. I got the Al-Star in a turquoise green and Lexington grey ink, which reminds me of pencil. loving it. I also got a sample of a Noodler’s Fox red, for some variety. I haven’t been doing much serious art…just the puttering kind. Busy with the wedding preps and all.

Looking forward to seeing what YOU will do next, and where you will wander next.

Saw a cool quote. It is new to me…maybe not to others. “Artists are people driven by the tension between the desire to communicate, and the desire to hide.” D.W. Winnicott. So true…

Cold press watercolor paper is so wonderful for soaking in that paint, and so hard to write on with a pen. I’ve ended the lives prematurely of more than one Pitt and Micron pen by trying to do that, and fountain pens – fuggedaboutit on the cold press. Used for its intended purpose, it’s delicious with its texture and heft and richesse. I have to confess I like the ‘feel’ of silky smooth hot press as am a paper fondler. What a good thing they make plenty of both kinds, non?

In my corner of the living room, I’ve been getting very (very) excited over art journaling in my Moleskine this past two weeks. It feels like returning to an old love after far too long ‘out of country’; I’ve been setting out to just do a tiny block every night, and an hour and a half later? Still collaging and drawing and writing and pretty much giggling in joy. I can’t wait to finish dinner and set to work reacting visually to the day, with no knowledge of how it will all resolve by the end of the week (the layout of Moleskine calendar-type journal covering one week ‘in the life of..’) It’s like following a serialized novel every night, of my own making! Sweet mysteries unfolding…it’s love! xo

I LOVE cold press paper with watercolor, definitely my paper of choice in my sketchbooks ala MAM.
It is almost maple-tapping time here in the NE…they may have actually got a first run last week but don’t know for sure.
We are not tapping this year 🙁
Can’t wait to see what you make of the cold press!

I sooo love that you buy expensive paper and are willing to simply play and have fun on it! I’m that way too, but so many people freeze up and save expensive stuff for when they get “good,” whenever that is, and practice on cheap stuff that doesn’t help them learn how to use the “good” stuff! You’re a good role model that way. As for me — not much new excect that I’m loving colored pencils more than ever and learning a ton from a class I’m taking right now. Colored pencils R Us! 😉

After painting with acrylics and playing with watercolor I have settled on oil paint. The smell! The colors! The many techniques ! I am in love. I have a solvent-free studio. No turps, no mineral spirits, only oil (walnut) and Ivory soap and water. You might, however , consider buying stock in Bounty paper towels. I use a lot of them and not just a few baby wipes!

I love these book studies! Very inspiring.
I have a question I hope you can answer. I am volunteering with a non-profit group and
will be teaching grade schoolers in low income areas how to paint in watercolor. I’m so excited!
I need to research relatively reasonably priced paints, brushes and paper. Your students work is so vibrant
that I thought I’d ask you first! Thanks MAM!

sounds wonderful!
we use prang watercolors set of 16 and a classroom set of inexpensive brushes found on amazon – royal brushes no. 6
most schools will have white paper that is acceptable for painting.
we use canson xl mixed media sketchbooks.
enjoy your time in school!